Rail lock



. Jan. 25, 1927;

1,615,274 R. HIGGINBOTHAM RAIL LOCK Filed August '14, 1926 Sneets-Shee. 1

v 1 A9 fl 8 p I Jan. 25, 1927. 7

P. R. HIGGINBOTHAM LL LLLL CK Filed Auguei 14. 1 2 6 I Steets-Sheei 2 {mew};-

Patented Jan. 25', 1927.

PAUL B. HIGGINBOTHAM, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

RAIL LOCK.

Application filed August 14, 1926. Serial No. 129,104.

The object of my invention is to provide a rail lock or anti-creeping device which is adapted to be punched from a flat steel plate and thereafter formed into a device of the above nature, comprising but a single element Another object of the invention is to produce an anti-creeping device for rails which, when it is applied to the rail, cannot be shaken looseby securely locked to the base of the rail. Another object of the invention is to provide an. anti-creeping device for rails which has a broad bearing surface against the rail support.

My improved anti-creeping device does not depend upon frictional engagement with the rail for preventing the creeping ofthe rail, but is provided with means adapted to penetrate the surface of the base of the rail, in event of the rail having a tendency to creep.

The construction of my invention will be fully. disclosed in detail hereinafter, refer ence being had to theaccompanying drawings, of which:

Fig-1 is ,a side elevation of a portion of a rail and an underlying supporting tie, illustrating my improved anti-creeping device as.

applied thereto;

ig. 2 is a plan view of the elements illustrated in Fig 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional elevation taken along the line 3-3, of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 illustrates the initial step employed in applying my improved anti-creeping device to thebase of a rail; Fig. 5 illustrates the intermediate step in applying the device to a rail, and

Fig. 6 is a modified form of the invention. the drawings, my im-' As illustrated in proved anti'creeping device comprises a body portion 1, which is provided with a penetrating edge 2, adapted to engage the under surface 3 of the base flanges 4, 4 of a rail 5. The body portion 1 extends entirely across and under the said base flanges 4, 4 of the rail, providing a broad surface which is adapted toengage one sideof a railroad tie 6, to which the rail 5 is secured. The body portion. 1 extends. beyond the edges of the base flanges 4,4 and thereafter is formed, as illustrated at 7, to extend inward toward said base flanges, in the form of wings 8, 8, to provide means for locking and centering the anti-creeping device relative to the rail vibration, the device being that illustrated in Fig. of the body portionl as and preventing its being shifted or loosened thereon by vibration. The resilient wings 8, 8 are each provided with a locking shoulder 9, adapted to engage the upper surface 10 of the adjacent base flange 4, and an abutting edge 19adapted to engage the edge of said flange, the resilient wings 8, 8 thereby centering the device relative to the rail.

Limit lugs 11, 11 are provided, which extend laterally from the body portion 1 at the side opposite the Wings 8, 8 and engage the upper surface 10 of assist in maintaining the device upon the rail.

.The base 1 is'further provided with recesses 12, 12 for the purpose of facilitating the application of the anti-creeping device to the base of the rail Referring to Fig. 4, it will be noted that the anti-creeping device is initially applied to the rail 5, by hooking one end of the body portion 1 onto the edge of one of the base flanges 4, said base flange edge entering the recess 12 in the body of the device.

By raising: the free end of the anti-creeping device, the said device is brought into the position illustrated in Fig. 5, wherein the. edge of the second base flange 4 of the rail enters thesecond recess 12 in the body portion 1 of the device. The device is then canted, from the position illustrated in' Fig. 5 to a fulcrum point and swinglng the wings 8 (upward until the look 'ing shoulders 9 thereof snap over the edges of the rail flanges 4, 4 and engage the upper surfaces 10 adjacent said edges and the abutting edges 19, 19 engage said base flange edges, at which time the lower edge 14 of each of the limit lugs 11 engages the upper surface 10 ofjzhe said base ,flang es 4. Canting ofithe device, I, above described, brings the penetrating edge 2 off the body: portlon 1 into cooperative engagement wit the under surface 3 of the base of the rail, and places thedevice under a constant tore sional stress. Engagement of the abutting edges 19,1!) of the wings 8, 8 with the edges the base flanges 4, 4 to A 3,. using the edge 13 I of the rail flanges 4, 4 centers the device relative to the rail and prevents it' being shifted have a tendency to cant the device still further, in the same general direction as above noted, .using the biting edge 2 as a fulcrum. Such canting action is limited by the limit lugs 11; therefore, the penetrating edge 2 is maintained The device, in the form illustrated. cannot be shaken loose on the rail, due to the fact that a pair of bearing surfaces or contact points 9 and 14 are provided to engage the upper surface 10 of the rail flanges 4 and the biting edge 2 forms a third contact point,

intermediate the two above mentioned contact points, by engaging the lower surface of the base of the rail. The device cannot shift laterally of the rail, due to the abutting edges 19, 19 of the wings 8, 8- engaging the edges of the rail flanges 4. It will be noted that in applying the device to the base of the rail it requires force to bring the locking shoulders 9 into their:

correct positionon' the top surface of the flanges 4 and by this means the device, when a plied to the rail, is constantly under a-torsional stress, which maintains the three contact points in positive engagement with the base flanges of the rail, and prevents relative movement between the elements, caused by the vibration produqed by trains passing over the rail.

In Fig. 6, I have illustrated a modified form of my invention, in which the body portion 1 of the device is bent as illustrated at 15, showing another means of forming a biting action of the edge 2 against the under surface 3 of the rail flange, which I have shown and described as a biting or penetrating edge 2 and 2.- Other penetrating means may be used such as diamond points, knurling or serrations for the purpose of positively engaging the rail to prevent its creeping relative to its supporting structure.

Iclaim z' 1. An anti-creeping device for rails having, at each side of said rail a penetrating edge adapted to engage one face of the base of a rail and means adapted to engage the opposite face of said rail base at points to each side of said penetrating edge the three said points of contact being disposed longitudinally of said rail; and meansfor connecting the portions of the anti-creeping device which lie at the opposite sides of the rail.

2. An anti-creeping device for rails having a body portion; rail penetrating means on said body portion and adapted to engage one face of the base of a rail; means on each end of said body portion adapted to engage the oppositeface of said rail base at points to each side of said penetrating means, the three said points of engagement being separated and disposed longitudinally of said rail, said body portion extending under said rail and adapted to engage a rail supporting element.

3. An anti-creeping device for rails comprising a body portion having a penetrating edge adapted tofengage the under surface of the base of a rail; and means on each side of said" body portion adapted to engage the upper surface of said rail base at points to each side of said penetrating edge, the three said pointsof contact being separated and disposed longitudinally of said rail.

4. "An anti-creeping device for'rails, comprising ing body portion of a length substantially equal to, the width of. the base of a rail; a penetrating edge formed on said body portion and adapted to engage the under surface of said rail base and means on each end of said body portion adapted to engage the upper surface of said rail base at points, longitudinally of the rail, to each side of said penetrating edge, adapted to maintain said single element under constant torsional stress when applied to. a rail and the said pene- 5. In combination with a" railway rail I and a supporting element therefor; an anticreeping device for said rail'comprising a body portion extending transversely under the base of a rail and adapted to engage said supporting element substantially throughout the length of said body portion; a penetrating edge on said body portion adapted to engage the underside of said rail base; and means on each end of said body por tion adapted to engage the upperside of said .rail base at points, lon the said rail, to each side of said penetrating edge, for maintaining said penetrating edge in constant co-operative engagement with said rail base-and said body portion con stantly in the correct position to engage said supporting element. 1

'6. In combination with arailwayrail and a supporting elementtherefor, an antia single element having 211316 engaggitudinally of cree in device for said rail com risin a said rail base; retaining lugs on said body". I portion and locking wings on said. body I ,portion' adapted -to co-operate with said,

creeping body portion extending transversely under,

from the oppositeside of said surface of said rail base,

--underside of said rail retaining lugs to maintain said penetrating edge in co-operative engagement with said rail base. L Y

7. In combination with a railway rail and a supporting element therefor, an antidevice for said rail, comprising-a the base of said rail' and adapted to, engage said supporting element substantially throughout the entire len th of said body portion; a penetrating edge. on said body portion adapted to engage the underside of said rail base; retaining lugs integral with and extending laterally from one side of said body portion and adapted to engage the upper surface of said rail base; locking wings integralwith and extending laterally body portion; and locking shoulders formed in said wings and adapted to engage the upper whereby said. body portion is placed under a constant torsional stress and the said penetrating edge is maintained in co-operative eiigagement with the ase.

8. An anti-creeping device, for rails, comprising. a body portion; rail penetrating means on said body portion; means on said body portion adapted to lock said device longitudinally relative to said rail; and means on said body portion for preventing said device from shifting its position transversely relative. to

said rail, after said longitudinal locking means becomes effective.

9. An anti-creeping device, for rails,

' portion; a penetrating edge the underside of'said rail base; and abutting edges formed on saidwings and adapted to engage theedges of the rail flanges, for

formed in. a single piece comprising a body portion, adapted to engage the rail sup port; rail penetrating means on said body portion and adapted to co operatively engage the rail; and-means for locking the device, to'the rail, against longitudinal and transverse movement :thereof with respect to the rail. 4 10. In combination with a railway rail and a-supporting element therefor, an anticreeping device for said rail, comprising a body portion extending transversely under the base of said rail and adapted toengage said supporting element substantially throughout the entire length of said body .on said body portion adapted to engage the underside of said rail base; retaining lugs integral with and extending laterally 'from one side of said body portion and adapted 'to engage the upper surface of said rail'base; locking wings integral with and extending laterally from the opposite 'side of said body portion; and locking shoulders formed. in said wings and adapted to engage the upper surface of said rail base, whereby saidrbody portion is placed under a constant torsional stress and the said penetrating edge is maintained in co-operative engagement with centering said device relative to s'aidrail.

PAUL R. HIGG'I'NBOTHAM. J 

